Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass
JR trains between New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru and Noboribetsu, limited expresses included
JR Hokkaido
Adults from¥10,000Price checked 2026/09/27
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Fares
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days | ¥10,000¥2,500 a day | ¥5,000¥1,250 a day | Bought abroad or online. Exchange order from a travel agent outside Japan, or JR-EAST Train Reservation |
| 4 days | ¥11,000¥2,750 a day | ¥5,500¥1,375 a day | Bought in Japan. At New Chitose Airport, Sapporo or Noboribetsu Station |
Child fares are for ages 6 to 11. From age 12, the adult fare applies.
Is the Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass worth it?
- You go from Sapporo to Noboribetsu and back (¥9,780 on the Suzuran or Hokuto) and add the airport train or Otaru: the pass costs ¥10,000 bought ahead.
- You fly in and loop: New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu (¥3,500), on to Sapporo (¥4,890) and back to the airport (¥1,230) is ¥9,620, and one Otaru round trip (¥1,600) takes it past the pass price.
- You make only the airport, Noboribetsu and Sapporo loop: at ¥9,620 in single tickets, it costs a little less than the pass.
- You go on to Lake Toya: it's outside the area, and Sapporo to Toya alone is ¥6,690 one way.
- You're also heading to Hakodate or Furano: the Hokkaido Rail Pass, from ¥22,000 for 5 days, covers those too.
Fares are regular-season reserved-seat fares; buying in Hokkaido adds ¥1,000.
What's covered
- JR Hokkaido limited express, rapid and local trains between New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Otaru
- Sapporo to Iwamizawa
- The Sassho Line (Gakuen Toshi Line) from Sapporo to Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku
- Minami-Chitose to Noboribetsu via Tomakomai and Shiraoi
- Reserved seats in ordinary cars on limited expresses, at no extra charge
- Toya, which is outside the area
- Green Cars, which cost the limited express charge plus the Green Car charge
- JR Hokkaido Bus, the Sapporo subway and the Sapporo streetcar
- Trips beyond the area: you pay the regular fare and charges for the extra section
How to use it
The pass runs for 4 consecutive days from a start day you choose. Put it through the automatic ticket gate yourself, or show it to the staff at stations without gates. It is a magnetic ticket, so don't fold it or keep it next to your phone, and a lost pass is not replaced.
Every seat on JR Hokkaido limited expresses is reserved, so get a free seat reservation before boarding: at a JR ticket counter, a reserved seat ticket machine, or online with JR-EAST Train Reservation. If the train is full, you can still stand in an ordinary car.
JR Hokkaido's own example: a round trip from Sapporo to Noboribetsu plus a round trip from Sapporo to Otaru costs ¥13,380 in regular fares. The pass costs ¥10,000 bought in advance, or ¥11,000 at the station.
Before you buy
Any non-Japanese passport holder can use the pass. Since 1 April 2025 you no longer need Temporary Visitor status. Show your own valid passport when you buy or collect it (a copy or residence card is not accepted), and carry it while you travel.
Buying in advance saves ¥1,000: get an exchange order from a travel agent outside Japan or book with JR-EAST Train Reservation, then collect the pass at a designated counter. In Hokkaido you can buy it only at New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Noboribetsu stations, in cash (yen) or by credit card. From 20 October 2026, ticket machines with passport readers at Sapporo and New Chitose Airport stations can also sell and exchange passes.
You can't hold two of these passes with overlapping dates. Refunds are possible only before the start date or if the pass is unused, minus a 10% fee (¥560 if booked with JR-EAST Train Reservation). Delays and cancellations don't extend the pass.
Questions
Does the Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass cover Lake Toya?
No. Toya is outside the valid area. If you ride beyond the area, you pay the regular fare and charges for the extra section.
Can I use it from New Chitose Airport?
Yes. Trains between New Chitose Airport and Sapporo are covered, and so is the line south to Noboribetsu.
Does it cover Otaru?
Yes. JR trains between Sapporo and Otaru are included.
Is the Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass worth it?
Usually, if you visit both Noboribetsu and Otaru. JR Hokkaido's example: a Sapporo to Noboribetsu round trip plus a Sapporo to Otaru round trip costs ¥13,380 in regular fares, against ¥10,000 for the pass bought in advance.
Can I use it on the Sapporo subway or buses?
No. It doesn't cover JR Hokkaido Bus, the Sapporo subway or the Sapporo streetcar.
Do children need their own pass?
Children aged 6 to 11 need a child pass: ¥5,000 bought in advance or ¥5,500 at the station. From 12 they pay the adult fare.
Can I buy it if I live in Japan?
Yes, if you hold a non-Japanese passport. Since 2025/04/01 the pass is open to all non-Japanese passport holders, not only Temporary Visitors.
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